Jan Palach Memorial (The)

Just past the Wenceslas Monument on the city's longest square stands the memorial to Jan Palach, a young Czech student who set himself alight on January 16 1969 as a protest against the Soviet occupation. The shrine... More »

Just past the Wenceslas Monument on the city's longest square stands the memorial to Jan Palach, a young Czech student who set himself alight on January 16 1969 as a protest against the Soviet occupation. The shrine to Palach and another student who followed his example, Jan Zajic, is now garlanded with flowers and photographs, and is regarded as a memorial to those who fell at the hands of Communism. Groups gather annually on this day to commemorate his martyrdom, placing wreaths and candles on the spot.